Regent Moray: From Rebel to Regent

Published23rd January 2016

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Whilst Moray spent the majority of his life in lowland
Scotland he also travelled to the north-east of the country and made at least
two journeys to France and several to England, sometimes on diplomatic
missions, but also as an exile.

The numbers against the places correspond to those on the map here and at the end of this article.

Lord James Stewart, the Earl of Moray, was born at the Castle
of Dunnottar (1), now one of the most spectacular ruins in Scotland, situated about
two miles south of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. Overlooking the sea, it is
an almost impregnable mediaeval fortress. Quite why James was born there is
unclear, as his mother was Margaret Erskine, Lady Douglas, and the Castle was
in the possession of the Keith family, the Earls Marischal. It’s possible that Lady
Margaret was visiting with
James V, who was definitely there in 1531 (the
likely year of James’ birth), exempting Marischal and his men from certain types
of military service.

Dunnottar Castle

James V was happy to recognise his numerous illegitimate
children and Moray and his half-siblings spent time in all of the royal
palaces, including the Palace of Holyroodhouse (2) in Edinburgh. Holyrood,
which was extensively remodelled by James V, is today, Her Majesty The Queen’s
official residence in Scotland. In the heart of Edinburgh, it is well worth
visiting. It was at Holyrood that Lord James was married in 1562, to Lady Agnes
Keith, daughter of the Earl Marischal and granted the earldoms of Mar and Moray.
It was also at Holyrood that the murder of David Riccio took place, an event
that Moray almost certainly knew was going to occur.

Although in the lower ranks of society people did not generally travel huge distances, amongst the upper classes in Scotland, travel to France and other European countries was frequent. Moray may well have attended university in Paris for a short period, after delivering his half-sister to the French court in 1548. He also visited France in the train of Marie of Guise on her visit to Mary, Queen of Scots in 1550 - 1551. The party returned via England and it is probably at Westminster (3) or Whitehall, that Moray first became acquainted with some of the leading lights of the Protestant court of Edward VI. These men would later become his allies - Sir William Cecil, later chief Secretary of State to Elizabeth I, Sir Henry Killigrew, and others.

Even more importantly, one of the chaplains at the English
court was the Scotsman, John Knox, who was breathing a radical version of
Protestantism into the upper echelons of English society. Moray was distinctly
impressed by him. The Tudor Palace of Whitehall has now disappeared, as has the
mediaeval Palace of Westminster. The only exception is the 14
th
century Westminster Hall which still forms part of the Houses of Parliament and
can be visited as part of a guided tour.

Lord James, and others, impressed with what he had seen of
John Knox, invited him to return to Scotland. It was at Perth (4) that Knox
began to attract large crowds, keen to hear his new doctrines as he preached in
the Kirk of St John. His inflammatory denunciation of idolatry gave rise to
rioting in the town, and widespread destruction of Catholic places of worship.
Lord James, although becoming increasingly attached to the Protestant faith,
was still working with his stepmother,
Marie of Guise, and tried to quell the
disturbances, but to no avail.

Relationships between Queen Marie and the Lords of the Congregation
now deteriorated. Lord James formally joined the Protestant Lords and led an
army which captured Stirling Castle (5). Stirling was one of the most important
strongholds in Scotland, guarding the crossing of the Firth of forth. Two of
the most important battles in Scottish history were fought beneath its walls –
Bannockburn and
Sauchieburn. It’s a stunning place to visit, the great Hall of
James IV and the Palace block built by James V have been extensively restored
and the Palace block, in particular, has been decorated as it would have been
during the Regency of Marie of Guise.

On Marie’s death, Lord James travelled to France to understand
his half-sister
Mary Queen of Scots’ plans for returning to Scotland. Having
met with her, and formed the basis of a good working relationship, he showed his
allegiance to the Protestant faith to be more important to him than his loyalty
to his sovereign. On his return to Scotland, he visited England again to inform
Elizabeth I and
Sir William Cecil of his discussions with Mary.

Nevertheless during the first couple of years of Mary’s
personal rule, Lord James was always at her side. In 1562, she granted him the
title of Earl of Moray, and he was at her side during her expedition to the
North of Scotland, aimed at taming the power of George Gordon, 4th Earl of
Huntly. Moray was at Inverness Castle (6) when the keeper of it, Sir Alexander
Gordon, refused to allow the Queen to enter. The insubordination of the Gordons
was soundly punished when Moray led the Queen’s troops to a decisive victory
at the Battle of Corrichie (7), which took place near Meikle Tap in
Aberdeenshire. There is a commemorative plaque on the site of the battlefield.

Site of Battle of Corrichie

Moray’s relationship with his half-sister deteriorated when
he objected to her marriage to Lord Darnley. Following the Chaseabout Raid in
1565, during which the Queen’s forces scattered those of Moray and his
colleagues, Moray was forced into exile in England. He spent some six months in
Newcastle (8), although where exactly he lived is unknown. In his absence,
although with his knowledge, a number of the Lords, led by Darnley, decided to
assassinate the Queen’s secretary, David Riccio. Moray arrived back at
Holyroodhouse the following day.
Mary does not seem to have asked how he came
to appear so quickly.

Apparently reconciled with Mary, Moray was with her while
she conducted a justice in Ayre based at Jedburgh (9). He remained with her
whilst she lay there bedridden and close to death. It has been alleged that Moray
was aware of the Bond of Craigmillar, which probably envisaged the death of
Darnley, however there is no definite proof.

Within a few weeks of Darnley’s assassination, Moray left
for France. According to some accounts this was without
Mary’s permission, but
other records say she gave consent. He returned to see his sister in her prison
at Lochleven (10), where they quarrelled bitterly. The Queen, having been forced
to abdicate, Moray became Regent and led the troops loyal to the new King,
James VI, at Langside (11) when Mary was finally defeated. Once the Queen was
in England, Moray made a number of attempts to have her returned to Scotland,
however, Queen Elizabeth was reluctant to permit this, fearing she would
executed. In the autumn of 1568, Moray travelled to York (12) to attend a
commission set up by Elizabeth I to investigate the circumstances of Mary’s deposition.
Mary was convinced that the Commission was being set up to enquire into why Moray
and the others had rebelled, whilst Moray had been assured that it would
investigate the Queen’s alleged involvement in the murder of Darnley. The Commission
was transferred from York to London to Westminster (3) and
Hampton Court.

On his return to Scotland, Moray attempted to deal with the
remaining members of the Queen’s Party. In particular he hoped to drive her
supporters, headed by John, 5th Lord Fleming, out of Dumbarton Castle (13),
which he besieged. It soon became apparent that the Castle could not be
captured, it having been relieved by supplies from a French ship. Moray
withdrew, and on his return to Edinburgh broke his journey at Linlithgow (14).

Dumbarton Castle

He did not stay in the beautiful Palace of Linlithgow, the
haunting ruins of which may still be visited, but in a
private lodging. Setting out from Linlithgow on either the 21
st or
23
rd January 1570, Moray was shot and killed by Sir James Hamilton
of Bothwellhaugh. He died later that day and his body was conveyed to Edinburgh
where it was interred in the south aisle of High Kirk of St Giles (15) on
Tuesday, 14 February, 1570.